In Robert Thompson's first three seasons as the head men's basketball coach at Arkansas Tech University from 1999-2000 through last year, the Wonder Boys opened Gulf South Conference play with back-to-back wins every season.

Thompson can make it four straight 2-0 league starts with a victory over Southern Arkansas on Thursday. Game time for the conference clash is set for 8 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum. Russellville radio station KWKK 100.9 FM will broadcast the game.

The Wonder Boys (5-3 overall, 1-0 GSC) won their fourth straight league opener on Monday night with a 96-91 double overtime victory over Arkansas-Monticello. Tech overcame Idrion Reed's 45 points by placing five players in double figures in scoring, led by Dustin Smith's 19 points.

The Muleriders (4-8, 0-1), who have qualified for each of the last four GSC Tournaments, got their 2003 tour of the league off to a sour start on Monday when they dropped a 93-79 decision to Ouachita Baptist despite an 18-point, five-assist performance by Southern Arkansas' Nick Davis.

Davis, a junior guard from Little Rock, is averaging a team-best 14.7 points per game for the Muleriders this season. Senior guard Bryan Biley of Magnolia (12.2 points per game) is the only other Southern Arkansas player averaging in double figures in scoring.

Tech's top scorer this season is senior guard Steven Willis of Clarksville. Willis, who is averaging 17.8 points per game this year, reached double figures in scoring for the 20th consecutive game Monday when he notched 18 points against Arkansas-Monticello.

Smith, a senior guard from Kokomo, Ind., is second in scoring for Tech at 13.1 points per game. Junior center Tim Black of Fort Smith has scored 15 points in each of Tech's last three games and is averaging 10.1 points per outing for the season. Senior forward Jason Bradley of Lockesburg scored a season-high 16 points for Tech on Monday to raise his season average to 9.7 points per contest.

Tech is 81-61 all-time against Southern Arkansas in men's basketball. The Wonder Boys are 49-20 against the Muleriders in games played at Russellville.